Derivatives of 4alpha, 8, 14-trimethyl-18-nor-5alpha, 8alpha, 14beta-androstanes



United States Patent DERIVATIVES 0F 4a,8,14-TRIMETHYL-l8-NOR- 5a,8a,14)8-ANDROSTANES Patrick A. Diassi, Westfield, and Gerald W. Krakower,

Elizabeth, N.J., assignors, by mesne assignments, to E. R. Squibb & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed June 14, 1965, Ser. No. 463,859

5 Claims. (Cl. 260--397.45)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to derivatives of 4a,8,14-trimethyl-l8-nor-5a,8a,l4fi-androstanes. The compounds of this invention possess anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antigonadotrophic activity.

This invention relates to and has as its object the provision of new physiologically active steroids, novel methods for their production and new intermediates useful in said preparation. More particularly, this invention relates to the preparation of compounds of the formula wherein C is or C O, and R is hydroxyl or acyloxy.

The novel compounds of this invention are pharmacologically active substances that possess anti-androgenic activity (i.e., they can be utilized in the treatment of such conditions as hyperandrogenic acne). They are also useful as anti-estrogenic and anti-gonadotrophic agents. The compounds may be formulated for such administration, the concentration and/ or dosage being based on the activity of the particular compound and the requirements of the patent. Acyl represents the acyl moiety of an acid group consisting of a lower alkanoic acid of less than twelve carbons, e.g., acetic, propionic, butyric and tertpentanoic acid; monocyclic hydrocarbon monocarboxylic acids of from six to twelve carbons, e.g., benzoic and toluic acid; and mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon aralkanoic acids, e.g., phenacetic and fi-phenylpropionic acid; the lower alkenoic acids; the cycloalkane-carboxylic acids and the cycloalkenecarboxylic acids; alkoxy represents o-alkyl moieties wherein the alkyl has from one to ten carbons, preferably from one to six carbons, such as ethoxy, pentoxy, isopropoxy, decoxy, and so forth.

The final compounds of this invention may be prepared according to the processes of this invention beginning with 401,8,14 trimethyl l8 nor 50:,3oz,14fi androstane- 3,11,17-trione as a starting material. The preparation of this compound is disclosed in copending US. patent appli cation Ser. No. 399,399, filed Sept. 25, 1964, now abandoned. The starting material is first ketalized by reacting 'ice it with a dioxolane, e.g., 2-methyl-2-ethyl-1,3-dioxolane, in p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate under reflux conditions. It has been surprisingly found that this reaction ketalizes in the 3-position. Other dioxolanes that may be utilized in the practice of this invention are the dioxolanes of acetone and of mesityl oxide.

The ketalized intermediate having oxo groups (=0) in the 11- and 17-positions may then be reduced in only the 17-position by metal hydride reduction. This reaction is carried out at ambient temperatures. It is preferred to utilize sodium borohydride in an absolute alcohol, e.g., methanol, ethanol, and so forth. Hydrolysis of this derivalive yields one of the end products of the invention, 17a hydroxy 4u,8,l4 trimethyl l8 nor 5a,8ct,l4B- androstane-3,ll-dione. This hydrolysis reaction is carried out utilizing a weak mineral acid, e.g., sulfuric, hydrochloric or hydrobromic acids.

Alternatively, it has been discovered that by reducing the starting material with a metal hydride, preferably sodium borohydride at ambient temperatures, the 3- and 17-positions are reduced to form 3fi,17a-dihydroxy-4a,8, 14-trimethyl-l8-nor-5a,8a,l4fi androstane 11 one final product, leaving the ll-position unaffected.

Alternatively, when a 3a-acyloxy-4a,8,14-trimethyl-18- nor-5a,8a,l4B-androstane-11,17-dione, such as one of those disclosed in copending US. patent application Ser. No. 399,339, filed Sept. 25, 1964, is reduced with lithium tri-tert-butoxy-aluminum hydride at reflux temperatures, the l7a-hydroxyl derivative is recovered. This hydroxyl derivative may then be acylated to yield the corresponding 30:,17ot-Cll3CYlOXY derivative. Another route to the 30:,17ot-dl21CYlOXY derivative of the invention is to reduce the starting 3a-acyloxy material with lithium aluminum hydride in tetrahydrofuran and thereafter react the 30:,17adihydroxy derivative with 2 molar equivalents of the acylating reagent under acylating conditions to form the 3a,l7a-acylated end product.

The invention may be illustrated by the following examples. All temperatures are in degrees Centigrade unless otherwise stated.

Example 1. 3-ethylenedioxy-4ot,8,14-trimethyl-l8-nor- 5a,8a,14/3-androstane11,17-dione A solution of 100 mg. of 411,8,14-trimethyl-18-nor-5u, 8a,l4B-androstane-3,11,17-trione in 10 ml. of 2-methyl-2- ethyl-1,3-dioxolane containing mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate is refluxed for 25 minutes. The slightly yellow solution formed is cooled and diluted with ether. Pyridine, 0.2 ml., is then added to the solution. The solution is then extracted with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo. The residue on crystallization from acetone-hexane gives mg. of 3-ethylenedioxy 401,8,14 trimethyl l8 nor 5a,8a,14;8 androstane-11,17-dione, having a melting point about 203-205 C., [0:1 --137 (chloroform).

Analysis.Calcd for C H O (374.53): C, 73.76; H, 9.15. Found: C, 73.85; H, 9.19.

Example 2.3-ethylenedioxy-' l7a-hydroxy-4a,8, l 4- trimethyl- 1 8-nor-5a, 8a,14 3-androstane-11-one To a solution of 77 mg. of the compound of Example 1 in 10 ml. of absolute ethanol, 77 mg. of sodium borohydride are added and the mixture stirred at room temperature (about 23 C.) for minutes. The solution is acidified with 10% acetic acid and then diluted with water. The crystals which separate are filtered, washed with water and dried to give 50 mg. of 3-ethylenedioxy-l7ahydroxy-4a,8,l4-trimethyl-18 nor 5a,8a,14/8-androstanell-one having a melting point about 253212 C., [a] 148 (chloroform).

Analysis.Calcd for C H O (376.52): C, 73.36; H, 9.64. Found: C, 73.54; H, 9.49.

3 3 Example 3.17a-hydroxy-4u,8,14-trimethyl-18-nor- 5 a,8u, 14B-androstane-3, 1 l-dione A solution of 50 mg. of the compound of Example 2 in 10 ml. of methanol containing 0.35 ml. of 8% sulfuric acid is refluxed for 1 hour. The solution is then paltially evaporated, then diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform is washed with water, evaporated and the residue crystallized from acetone-hexane to give 31 mg. of 17a-hydroxy-4a,8,14-trimethyl-l8-nor- 5u,8a,14,8-androstane-3,1l-dione, having a melting point about 222224 C., [a] 157 (chloroform).

Analysis.-Calcd for C H O (332.47): C, 75.86; H, 9.70. Found: C, 75.94; H, 9.75.

Example 4.--3,3, 1 7a-dihydroxy-4a, 8,14-trimethyl-18-nor- 5a,8a,14,8-androstane-1l-one To a suspension of 100 mg. of 4a,8,14-trimethyl-l8 nor-5113a,14B-androstane-3,11,17-trione in 10 ml. of ethanol, 100 mg. of sodium borohydride are added and the mixture stirred at room temperature (about 23 C.) for 60 minutes. The solution is acidified with 10% acetic acid then diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform is washed with water and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue on crystallization from acetone-hexane gives 3fi,l7a-dihydroxy-4a,8,14-trimethyl-l8-nor-5ot,8a,145 androstane 11 one, having a melting point about 250252 C., [a] l43 (absolute ethanol).

Analysis.Calcd for C H O (334.48): C, 75.40; H, 10.25. Found: C, 75.39; H, 10.30.

Example 5.3a-acetoxy-17a-hydroxy-4a,8,l4-trimethyl- 18-nor-5a,8a,14,3-androstane-l l-one A solution of 316 mg. of 3a-acetoxy-4a,8,14-trimethyl- 18-nor-5a,8a,14,3-androstane-11,17-dione and 875 mg. of lithium tri-tert-butoxyaluminum hydride in 30 ml. of tetrahydrofuran (freshly distilled from lithium aluminum hydride) is heated at reflux temperature for 2 hours. After addition of water and acidification with glacial acetic acid, the solvent is evaporated. The residue is taken up in ethyl acetate and the solution washed with saturated salt solution, dried and evaporated to give 295 mg. of crude product. Recrystallization from methanol gives 218 mg. of 3a-acetoxy-17a-hydroxy 4a,8,l4 trimethyl-18-nor-5 :,8a, '14f3-androstane-1l-one, M.P. 241-243" C. The analytical sample has a M.P. 245-247 C., [a] -176 (chloroform).

Analysis.-Calcd for C H O (376.5): C, 73.36; H, 9.64. Found: C, 73.39; H, 9.69.

Example 6.-3 m,17a-diacetoxy-4a,8,14-trimethyl-18-nora,8a,14fi-androstane-1 l-one (a) A solution of 70 mg. of 3a-acetoxy-l7a-hydroxy' 40:,8,14-trimethyl-l8-nor-5a,8a,14fl-androstane-1l-one in 2 ml. of pyridine and 1 m1. of acetic anhydride is kept at room temperature. After 17 hours, the reaction mixture is diluted with water and evaporated. Crystallization from methanol gives 40 mg. of 3a,17oc-diaCtOXy4ot,8,14-t1imethyl-18-nor-5a,8u,l4B-androstane-1l-one, M.P. 154- 156 C., [ab-107 (chloroform).

Analysis.Calcd for C H O (418.6): C, 71.74; H, 9.15. Found: C, 71.82; H, 9.21.

(b) When 3a,l7u-dihydroxy 4a,8,14-trimethyl-18-nor- 5a,8a,14fi-androstane-1l-one is treated with pyridine and aectic anhydride as described above, 3a,l7a-diacetoxy-4 x, 8,14-trimethyl-18-nor-5a,8a,14fl-androstane-1l-one is obtained, MP. 155-157 C., and identical in all respects with the material described above.

Example 7.-3a,17a-dihydroxy-4a,8,l4-trimethyl-l8-nor- 5a,8a,14B-androstane-1l-one A suspension of mg. of lithium aluminum hydride in 5 ml. of tetrahydrofuran is added to a solution of 92 mg. of 3a-acetoxy-4a,8,14-trimethyl-18-nor-5a,8a,14[3- androstane-11,17-dione in 5 ml. of tetrahydrofuran and the mixture is heated at reflux for one hour. The reaction mixture is cooled and a saturated sodium sulfate solution is added slowly until two layers form. The organic layer is decanted, washed with saturated salt solution, dried and evaporated to give 86 mg. of crude product. Two recrystallizations from ether-hexane give 22 mg. of 3a,17adihydroxy-4a,8,14 trimethyl 18 nor 5 a,8ot,l4fi-androstane-ll-one, M.P. 205-207" C., [a] (chloroform). The analytical sample has M.P. 207-208 C.

Analysis.Calcd for C H O (334.5): C, 75.40; H, 10.25. Found: C, 75.37; H, 10.30.

While there have been described various embodiments of the invention, the compositions and methods described are not intended to be understood as limiting the scope of the invention, as it is realized that changes therein are possible and it is further intended that each element recited in any of the following claims is to be understood as referring to all equivalent elements for accomplishing substantially the same results in substantially the same or equivalent manner, it covering the invention broadly in whatever form its principle may be utilized.

What is claimed is:

1. A compound having the formula [or C=O], and R is hydroxyl or acyloxy.

2. 3B,17a-dihydroxy-4a,8,14 trimethyl 18-I10r-5oc,8oz, 14B-androstane-11-one.

3. 3a-acetoxy-17a-hydroxy 4a,8,14 trimethyl-18-nor- 5a,8a,14B-androstane-1 l-one.

4. 3a,17a-diacetoxy 4a,8,14 trimethyl 18-I10r-5OC,8l1, 14fl-androstane-1l-one.

5. 3a,17a-dihydroxy 4a,8,14 trimethyl l8-I10r-5a,8oc, 14fi-androstane-l1-one.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,316,281 4/1967 Diassi et al 260397.3

LEWIS GO-TT S, Primary Examiner.

E. G. LOVE, J. R. BROWN, Assistant Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 ,393,2l2 July 16 1968 Patrick A. Diassi et al It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1 line 54 "patent" should read patient line 71 "399 399" should read 399 ,339 Column 2 line 69 "212 should read 255 Column 3, line 66 "aectic" should read acetic Column 4 lines 43 to 47 the formula should appear as shown below:

same column 4 line 53 cancel [or C=O] O-Acyl Signed and sealed this 3rd da of February 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E SCHUYLER, JR Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

